On May 27, 2023, residents of the village of Staraya Zhadova, Chernivtsi region, witnessed an attempt to illegally enter the “priest” of the OCU into the temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC with reference to the press service of the Chernivtsi-Bukovina diocese.

The “father” tried to fulfill his intention by breaking the door of the shrine with the help of a grinder.

“On the evening of May 27, residents of the village of Staraya Zhadova heard a loud noise near the Orthodox church. Arriving at the church, they saw that the source of the noise was a grinder, with the help of which the “priest” of the OCU was sawing the locks on the doors of the shrine,” the report says.

It is noted that the raiding attempt and the act of vandalism, which were committed by the so-called “clergyman” together with his henchmen, outraged the local residents. Believers resolutely stood up to protect their shrine from abuse, thanks to which the group of burglars failed to realize their criminal intentions.

The believers called the police to the scene.